College student's immigration detention highlights Dreamers' growing deportation risks

A traffic stop made in error upended the life of a 19-year-old woman who was born in Mexico and has lived in Georgia most of her life. It also shows the growing risks undocumented young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, known as Dreamers, face under President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Ximena Arias-Cristobal is opening up about how being wrongly pulled over by police in the city of Dalton last month put her on immigration authorities' radar and made her susceptible to deportation. ADVERTISING "There’s no way to go back to how my life was before," Arias-Cristobal told NBC News during a virtual conversation with reporters on Tuesday. Arias-Cristobal has lived in the U.S. since she was 4 years old. “Georgia is my home,” she said. Ximena Arias-Cristobal. Ximena Arias-Cristobal says she "hopes to have a future here in the United States."Courtesy Eileen Cunha / NP Agency When Dalton police stopped Arias-Cristobal on May 5, they accused her of making an improper turn and driving without a valid driver’s license. A week later, all traffic-related charges against her were dropped after dashcam video of the traffic stop showed that the officer meant to stop another vehicle. Still, Arias-Cristobal spent two days in county jail and two and a half weeks at an immigration detention center in rural Georgia. Recommended U.S. news Boulder attack suspect appears in court as family remains in ICE detention Diddy on Trial 'Jane,' ex-girlfriend of Sean Combs, testifies feeling financially threatened into 'freak offs' Her case shows what nearly 2.5 million Dreamers living in the U.S. face as the Trump administration steps up the pace of deportations of immigrants who don’t have criminal charges or convictions, despite the president's campaign vows to prioritize the deportations of violent criminals. “Dreamers are under attack,” said Gaby Pacheco, president of TheDream.US, an organization helping Dreamers go to college. An athlete and a honor student, Arias-Cristobal attended Dalton public schools her whole life. Arias-Cristobal received a national scholarship from TheDream.US, which runs a highly regarded scholarship program for undocumented youth with financial needs. She’s pursuing a degree in finance and economics at Dalton State Community College. “We have thousands of Dreamers apply to TheDream.US, like Ximena. The reason why Ximena got this scholarship is because she was one of the best,” Pacheco said, adding that Arias-Cristobal demonstrated to be a good student at school, a member of the running team and active in her church and community. Two weeks ago, Arias-Cristobal was released on the minimal amount of bond possible under the law, $1,500. The Dalton police officer who arrested Arias-Cristobal resigned on May 23, two days after she was released from immigration detention.